Steelers look to put pressure on Bengals

Article by Gordon Dedman

Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) at Kansas City Chiefs (1-5)

The Steelers travel to Kansas this Sunday with doubt over their starting quarterback. With a late decision expected, it is even more difficult to predict the outcome of the matchup and I need that soothsayer to come to my aid.

The Steelers +6 turnover margin (9 takeaways/3 giveaways) this season is the highest by the team in the first 6 games of a season since 2010 (+9). In recent years the Steelers defense has been the weak link in a team that has been building a potent offense.  The Steelers defense has now improved but, as I say every week, they will have to be at the top of their game Sunday to provide Landry Jones an opportunity to win the game.

 

The Steelers have forced seven turnovers in their last three games and that could be the key to whether they leave Kansas with the expected win. The Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith was respectful of the Steelers saying, "The Steelers’ defense is going to be physical and they’re going to play you down to the wire." Smith is a mobile quarterback, but has still been sacked 23 times and that justifies his caution regarding the Steelers

Because of the Steelers quarterback challenges, Antonio Brown has been quiet for three weeks, but maybe this will be the week he bursts back into life?

Cleveland Browns (2-4) at St Louis Rams (2-3)

The Browns need quarterback Josh McCown and wide receiver Travis Benjamin to be at their best against the Rams dominant pass defense. That Rams defensive unit could determine the outcome of the game while McCown has the opportunity to confirm how competent he has been this year, despite the team’s losses.

Rookie Todd Gurley has become the featured back in the last two games for the Rams after recuperating from a knee injury. His last two games have produced 146 and 159 yards rushing and he looks as though he can take advantage of the Browns porous run defense.

Cleveland’s Coach Mike Pettine described his run defense as a source of frustration and probably the biggest issue the team has to deal with. If the Browns don’t produce a solution to that challenge, the Rams will take the win.

Baltimore Ravens (1-5) at Arizona Cardinals (4-2) Monday Night Football Sky TV

When the schedule first came out for Monday Night games, this must have looked a cracking matchup. Now the Ravens have slumped in their dismal start to the season, it doesn’t look so appealing at first glance, but the Ravens have got to come good some time, so why not in front of a national TV audience?

Baltimore is surely up against it to change their losing ways. Arizona just edges it with all the stats, but psychologically, they will have the advantage. Playing at home should provide the impetus to give them the win.

 

“We cannot give up big plays,” Ravens defensive coordinator Dean Pees said. “It’s a broken record, but until we quit doing that, statistically, we’re going to look terrible.” The Ravens will continue to lose games if that don’t rectify that flaw.